Gary D. Kettell Sr., 63, trucking safety director

November 22, 2003

Gary D. Kettell Sr., safety director for Fleet Transit Inc. and an avid woodworker, died of cancer Sunday at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air. He was 63 and lived in the Harford County community of Dublin.

Mr. Kettell was born in Baltimore and raised in Hamilton. He was a 1959 graduate of City College and served in the Air Force until 1963. After returning to Baltimore, he joined the city Police Department and worked as a patrolman in Cherry Hill.

He drove car carriers for Anchor Motor Freight from 1970 until the early 1980s, when he became an independent truck driver.

In 1992, he joined Fleet Transit Inc. as safety director. From 1998 until last year, when he returned to Fleet Transit Inc., he was employed as safety director for Hahn Transportation Inc.

In recognition for his work promoting, designing and implementing motor truck safety programs, Mr. Kettell was named Safety Director of the Year in 2000 by the Maryland Motor Truck Association. He had not retired at his death.

An accomplished woodworker, Mr. Kettell built his log cabin home in Dublin in 1989 with the help of his sons and a carpenter. This year, he completed the addition of a two-car garage to his original cabin. In addition to woodworking, he enjoyed golfing.

He was a 32-year communicant of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Bel Air, where he had been a member of the vestry, director of acolytes and founder of the church youth group.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Main Street and Broadway, Bel Air.

Mr. Kettell is survived by his wife of 44 years, the former Druell Fleischer; three sons, Gary D. Kettell Jr. of Altoona, Pa.; Mike Kettell of Severn and R. Douglas Kettell of Norrisville; a daughter, Donna Bonham of Airville, Pa.; a brother, George Kettell of Royal Oak; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.